1. Fix any roof leaks before it rains. This is a sure way to prevent water damage to the attic, insulation, and ceilings within your home.
2. Gutters and downspouts should be clean and free of debris. Also look for any breaks and make sure the gutters are tight against the roofline. Moving water away from the home with rain gutters and downspouts will help prevent water from damaging your home.
3. Buy a generator. This standby generator will help provide light and possibly heat during a power outage.
4. Install a sump pump for areas below grade. Moving water from low lying areas will prevent ponding and potential water damage to your home.
5. Exterior surfaces of the home should be touched up, sealed, or painted. Seal up any holes from cables and other wires that penetrate exterior walls to prevent water damage.
6. Examine your windows. Look for holes in the seals and caulk the openings. Check and recaulk as needed.
7. Check balcony and deck slopes. Look for holes, loose, and degrading layers of building materials on the surface of patios or decks.
8. Call an exterminator to prevent pests from intruding during the rain.
9. Store emergency repair materials (sandbags, heavy plastic sheeting) in a safe dry place.
10. Vechile – Maintain tires and fill up your gas tank.
11. Buy new windshield wipers. This will help you drive safely during the heavy rains.
12. How old is your car’s battery? At three years, have it checked by a trusted mechanic.
13. Drainage. Prepare your yard by sloping landscape away from your home. Note new drainage patterns if you have recently changed to an environmentally friendly yard.
14. Automatic Timers: Turn off your system.
15. Loosen compacted soil: Ground that has been allowed to dry out will repel water initially. Make sure soil levels are below the stucco line of your home to prevent water damage.
16. Have your trees checked: With the drought taking a toll on all trees, now is the time to bring in a certified arborist — not a simple tree cutter — to do a health check and risk assessment.
17. Secure your yard: Reinforce your fencing if needed. Store or tie down anything that might blow and cause damage in high wind.
18. Have materials on hand to divert water: Sandbags, concrete edgers and straw-waddle tubing can effectively channel water away from structures to drainage areas.
19. Secure important documents in the cloud or on a thumb drive.
20. Put together preparedness and disaster supply kits for your home and car. FEMA, the California Department of Water Resources and the Auto Club are just three of many organizations that list important things to have on hand. For more information, go to www.floodprepareCA.com (California Department of Water Resources), www.ladbs.org (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety “Homeowners Guide for Flood, Debris Flow and Erosion Control”), www.ready.gov (National Weather Service) and www.aaa.com (Automobile Club of Southern California).
21. Prepare now: Experts agree that the toughest time to find solutions to rain-related issues is during a rainstorm.